THIS PROGRAM IS MADE BY MPT TO ENRICH ALL OF OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

CLOSED CAPTIONING HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY MARYLAND RELAY, EMPOWERING THOSE WHO ARE DEAF, HARD OF HEARING OR SPEECH DISABLED TO STAY CONNECTED BY PHONE.

LIVE FROM MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, THIS IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" WITH JEFF SALKIN.

♪♪] >> JEFF: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO YOUR "DIRECT CONNECTION."

COMING UP TONIGHT WE WILL MEET THE LEADER ST NEWEST NONPARTISAN NEWS OUTLET IN OUR REGION.

BUT WE BEGIN TONIGHT TALKING ABOUT YOUR HEALTH.

JOINING US IS DR.

MOHUMMAD MINHAJ SIDDIQUI PAVITRI DWIVEDI AND ADULT AND SENIOR PRIMARY PROVIDER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE WASHINGTON MEDICAL GROUP.

DOCTOR THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME STHOOR YOU ALWAYS HEAR HAS PEOPLE GET OLDER SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT OF IT'S NO FUN GETTING OLDER BUT IT BEATS THE ALTERNATIVE THAT IS NOT HOW YOU SEE IT?

YOU ARE MORE EXCITED ABOUT PEOPLE GETTING OLDER.

>> I'M EXCITED ABOUT PEOPLE GETTING OLDER I WILL TELL YOU A STORY.

I WAS AT A CONFERENCE AND I WENT AROUND ASKING HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS FROM DIFFERENT SPECIALTIES ABOUT WHAT IS ONE WORD YOU THINK.

WHEN YOU HEAR THE WORD AGING?

AND IT WAS SO REFRESHING TO HEAR WORDS SUCH AS WISDOM, KINDNESS, POWER BUT ONE THING THIS ONCOLOGIST SAID AND THAT WAS GIFT OF LIFE.

AND I THINK IT'S SO RARE THAT WE HERE POSITIVE NARRATIVE, POSITIVE LANGUAGE WHEN IT COMES TO AGING.

AND WE SHOULD BE USING THAT LANGUAGE BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE GREATING OLDER AND ME AND YOU WE ARE BOTH ABLERRING WHAT CAN WE DO TO AGE WELL.

>> Jeff: EVERYDAY IS A BLESSING.

BY 2030 ONE IN SIX PEOPLE WILL BE 60 YEARS OR OLDER.

THAT IS A PROBLEM FOR THE MATH DRIVING SOCIAL SECURITY FUNDING.

BUT GOOD FOR YOUR BUSINESS.

YOU HAVE A LOT OF PATIENTS?

>> WELL, I FEEL LIKE THERE'S SO MUCH DISCUSSION AROUND ANTIAGING, ANTIAGING VITAMINS AND SUPPLEMENTS AND TRENDS HOW TO LOOK YOUNGER BUT PEOPLE ARE ALREADY AGING WHAT CAN WE DO TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES TO AGE WELL.

DO THEY HAVE TRANSPORTATION?

ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE?

DO THEY HAVE EVERYTHING HAT THEY NEED TO MAKE SURE THEY GET TO AGE WITH DIGNITY, WITH LOVE, WITH THEIR LOVED ONES IF THAT IS THEIR CHOICE AND MAKING SURE THERE IS THAT ONE PERSON WHO CAN HELP THEM GUIDE WHEN IT BECOMES SO COMPLEX WHICH AGING CAN BE.

>> Jeff: AGING CAN BE COMPLEX.

WE'LL COME BACK TO THAT.

POPULATION OF ADULTS 65 AND OLDER IS GOING TO DEGREE FROM 58 MILLION TO 82 MILLION BY 2050.

ALSO BAD FOR THE SOCIAL SECURITY.

BUT THAT IS A LOT OF PEOPLE AND IT'S PARTLY BECAUSE THE COUNTRY IS GROWING.

POPULATION OVERALL IS GROWING AND PEOPLE LIVE LONGER.

>> THEY DO AND IT'S BECAUSE OF ALL THE SYSTEMS THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE.

I THINK THERE'S MORE ACCESS TO PREVENTATIVE HEALTH, ACCESS TO MEDICATIONS, MORE ACCESS TO INFORMATION.

I HAVE PATIENTS WHO WILL COME TO MY OFFICE AND THEY WILL TELL ME I READ THIS STUDY CAN YOU TELL ME MORE ABOUT THAT DOES THIS MEDICATION APPLY TO ME.

PEOPLE ARE LEARNING PORE AND DOING MORE FOR THEMSELVES.

IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MEET THEM WHERE THEY ARE.

>> Jeff: EDUCATION HERE, THE NEXT THING ON THE LIST WAS PLANT SEEDS FOR HEALTHY AGING, SLEEP EDUCATION, EXERCISE, DIET AND SOCIALIZATION.

LET'S START SLEEP.

WHICH I HEAR, BECOMES MORE DIFFICULT AS YOU GET OLDER.

>> ABSOLUTELY THERE IS A LOT OF FOCUS AROUND THE NUMBER.

GOD I HAVE TO GET THAT SEVEN TO EIGHT HOURS OF SLEEP.

I LIKE TO FOCUS ON IS HOW MUCH SLEEP ARE YOU GETTING AND THE SLEEP IS IT GIVING YOU THE QUALITY REST THAT YOU NEED TO RECHARGE?

ARE YOU ABLE TO DO YOUR DAY-TO-DAY FUNCTION WITH THE SLEEP YOU ARE GETTING AT NIGHT?

WHAT ARE THE REASONS?

METHOD KITHSES, PAN?

IT'S IMPORTANT TO SEE SLEEP FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE THAN IT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED IN THE PAST TO MAKE SURE WE GET TO THE ROOT CAUSE AND NOT JUST GIVE ANOTHER MEDICATION TO GET SOMEONE TO SLEEP MORE.

>> Jeff: OBVIOUS STUFF.

YOU WANT TO STANDARDIZE YOUR BEDTIME AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE?

YOU DON'T WANT CAFFEINATED COFFEE IN THE EVENING PEOPLE LIKE COFFEE AFTER DINNER BUT IS ANY CAFFEINE AND YOU ARE NOT SURE YOU WILL HAVE TROUBLE SLEEPING.

>> SLEEP HYGIENE IS NUMBER ONE WHEN IT COMES TO PATIENTS STRUGGLING WITH SLEEP.

WHAT IS YOUR ROUTINE AND WHAT DO YOU DO BEFORE BEDTIME AND THERE IS A LOT OF CAFFEINE AND SCREEN TIME, MIND STIMULATING ACTIVITIES THAT PEOPLE ARE DOING THAT THEY ARE NOT REALIZING THAT COULD BE CAUSING THEM TO NOT SLEEP WELL.

I HAVE PATIENTS THAT LISTEN TO THE RADIO AND THEY ARE THINKING ABOUT WHAT THEY LISTEN TO.

AND ESPECIALLY NOWADAYS THERE IS A LOT ON THE NEWS THAT MIGHT AFFECT YOU PERSONALLY.

A LOT OF TIMES FINDING WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR HYGIENE YOUR SLEEP HYGIENE TO HELP YOU REST AND RECHARGE.

WELL THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT.

IF YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO DO THAT IT'S GOOD TO NAP DURING THE DAYTIME.

>> Jeff: A NAP CAN CUT BOTH WAYS, RIGHT?

IF YOU TAKE TOO LONG A NAP TOO LATE IN THE DAY YOU WILL NOT FALL ASLEEP IN YOUR BEDTIME?

>> FOR THOSE PATIENTS IT IS OKAY IF YOU WANT TO TAKE A LATER NAP IN THE DAY AND OVERALL YOUR HEALTH WHEN YOU GET OLDER BECOMES MORE PERSONALIZED IT BECOMES MORE INDIVIDUALIZED.

SO A LOT OF TIMES THE GENERALIZED RECOMMENDATIONS DON'T WORK FOR EVERYONE OF THE I THINK FOR ME WHAT IS IMPORTANT I LOOK AT THE PORN AS A -- PERSON AS A WHOLE BEFORE I PRESCRIBE SOMETHING MAKING MORE ASSUMPTIONS HOW TO HELP THEM SLEEP BETTER.

>> Jeff: IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT AGING AND MEDICINE, A QUESTION FOR THE DOCTOR SEND US AN E-MAIL.

LOOK FORWARD TO THE E-MAILS.

NEXT ON THE LIST IS EDUCATION.

WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT GOING TO SCHOOL EDUCATION?

>> YOU CAN IF YOU WANT TO.

I THINK THE BIGGEST THING IS WHAT YOU ARE DOING TO KEEPING THAT CURIOSITY ALIVE?

WHAT ARE YOU DOING THAT YOU LOVE?

DO YOU HAVE A BOOK CLUB THAT YOU ENJOY?

IS THERE AN ACTIVITY THAT YOU ENJOY DOING THAT IS CAUSING THE BRAIN TO HAVE THAT STIMULATION THAT IT REQUIRES FOR OVERALL COGNITION.

SO ANYTHING THAT IS NOT PASSIVE WHICH MEANS PEOPLE WHO SPEND TOO MUCH TIME WATCHING TV OR SCROLLING ON THEIR PHONE.

WHATEVER THAT YOU ARE DOING DURING THE DAYTIME MAKE SURE IT'S MIND STIMULATING.

>> Jeff: NEXT WAS EXERCISE.

AND PEOPLE THINK AEROBIC EXERCISE I WILL HAVE TO DO SOMETHING TIRING, MITD HURT MYSELF WHAT EXERCISING ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT IS THIS.

>> I ASK MY PATIENT WHAT DOES MOVEMENT MEAN TO YOU?

YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE ENJOYING WHAT YOU ARE PROPOSING.

I LIKE GOING ON WALKS.

KEEP WALKING AND THE NECK TIME I ALWAYS SAY WHAT CAN WE DO TO ADD TO THAT?

IF YOU START MAKING EXERCISE AND MOVEMENT MORE EXCITING, IT'S EASIER FOR THEM TO ENJOY IT AND STICK TO IT THAN SAY, HEY ACCORDING TOTIES DPLIN YOU SHOULD BE DOING THIS MUCH AEROBIC EXERCISE BECAUSE IT CAN GET OVERWHELMING FOR THEM TO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THAT.

>> Jeff: AND RISKY, ESPECIALLY LATER AGES WHERE PEOPLE ARE PRONE TO FALLS.

NEXT ON THE LIST WAS DIET.

AND I WONDER IF PEOPLE AS THEY GET OLDER START THINKING AT THIS POINT IN MY LIFE I'M GOING TO HAVE THE MILKSHAKE.

WHAT DO YOU TELL YOUR PATIENTS?

>> HAVE YOUR MILKSHAKE AND MAKE SURE YOU ARE GETTING YOUR NUTRITION, PROTEIN YOU ARE NOT RELYING ON SUPPLEMENTS AND VITAMINS THAT YOU MAY NOT NEED.

BECAUSE IF YOU CAN GET WELL BALANCED THREE MEALS A DAY WE CAN AVOID THOSE EXTRA PILLS THAT ALSO HELPS US REDUCE PILL BURDEN WHICH CAN BE A PROBLEM FOR OUR PATIENTS.

>> Jeff: LAST THING WAS SOCIALIZATION.

A BIG WORD.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?

>> SOCIALIZING IS ASKING SOMEONE HEY WHAT ARE YOU DOING THIS WEEKEND?

WHO ARE THREE PEOPLE YOU CAN CALL IF SOMETHING HAPPENS THAT HELPS ME REALIZE WHO IS PART OF THIS PERSON'S SUPPORT SYSTEM?

DO THEY GO TO CHURCH, ENJOY A SUNDAY BRUNCH?

HOW CAN WE DO MORE TO OPTIMIZE THAT.

THAT HELPS WITH THE OVERALL EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING AND THEIR MENTAL HEALTH, THEIR PHYSICAL HEALTH NOW YOU HAVE A PURPOSE TO WAKE UP ON SUNDAY AND DO SOMETHING AND I THINK A PURPOSE IS A GREAT THING FOR OUR PATIENTS.

BECAUSE WHEN YOU RETIRE YOU DON'T HAVE MUCH TO LOOK FORWARD TO.

HAVING A SOCIAL CIRCLE CAN GO A LONG WAY.

>> Jeff: AND MAYBE DON'T FULLY RETIRE IF THERE IS A WAY TO KEEP ACTIVE, VOLUNTEERING.

WHAT GOT YOU INTO THIS FIELD?

WAS THERE SOMETHING IN YOUR CHILDHOOD WAS THERE SOMEBODY YOU KNEW THAT WAS KIND OF THE INSPIRATION FOR YOUR ENTHUSIASTIC APPROACH TO A TOPIC THAT MOST PEOPLE AREN'T THAT ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT?

>> I GREW UP IN INDIA AND MY GRANDMA WAS A HUGE PART OF MY LIFE AND I SAW HOW MUCH SHE DID TO TAKE CARE OF HERSELF EVERY SINGLE DAY.

AND I THINK FOR ME GERIATRICS BECAME A PART OF MY CAREER DURING COVID 2020 I WAS AN INTERN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT MY LIFE AND HOW DO I NAVIGATE COVID I DON'T KNOW IF I HAVE THE RESOURCES TO HELP MY PATIENTS.

AND THAT IS WHEN I GOT TO WORK WITH OLDER PATIENTS, OLDER COUPLES WHO HAVE BEEN MARRIED FOR 60 PLUS YEARS AND YOU ARE COMMUNICATING BETWEEN THE PATIENT AND THE LOVED ONE.

IT GAVE ME THE PURPOSE THAT I WAS LOOKING FOR THAT I FELT SO LOST IN.

AND I ALWAYS TELL MY PATIENTS YES COVID WAS PROBABLY THE HARDEST PART OF ALL OF OUR LIVES BUT IT SAVED MY CAREER BECAUSE IT GAVE ME THE PURPOSE I WAS SEARCHING.

>> Jeff: I WAS WONDERING ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND YOUR TRAINING MEDICAL SCHOOL IN OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE WHICH IS I'VE HEARD A BIT MORE HOLISTIC THAN THE MD PROGRAMS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK NOWADAYS YOU SEE BOTH MD'S AND DO'S TO MAKE SURE THE CARE IS COMPREHENSIVE ESPECIALLY FOR OLDER ADULTS.

YOU SEE THE PERSON BEYOND THEIR DISARYKS BEYOND THEIR MEDICAL HISTORY AND THAT CAN BE TOUGH, BECAUSE WE GET SO USED TO LOOKING AT THE PERSON'S DIAGNOSIS LIST AND MEDICATION LIST BUT WHO IS THIS PERSON PRIOR TO THEIR DEMENTIA AND PRIOR TO RETIREMENT?

IF WE START SEEING PERSON AS A WHOLE, YOU CAN DO A LOT BETTER JOB TAKING CARE OF THEM OVERALL.

>> Jeff: LET'S SEE.

COUPLE OF VIEWER QUESTIONS.

SOMEBODY WANTS TO KNOW IF CHAIR YOGA IS A LEGITIMATE EXERCISE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

GO TO YOUR CHAIR YOGA.

>> Jeff: ALL RIGHT THAT WAS A QUICK ONE.

NOW, ANNETTE SAYS I'VE GAINED 10 ODD EACH ACADEMY, I -- DECADE, I EAT HEALTHY IS IT NORMAL TO GAIN WEIGHT AS WE AGE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND THESE NEED TO BE ADDRESSED WITH YOUR PRIMARY CARE DOCTOR I RECOMMEND THAT YOU GET SEEN RIGHT AWAY AND MAKE IS YOUR THAT YOU ARE GETTING ALL THE LABS AND TESTS THAT NEED TO BE DONE TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR HEALTH.

>> Jeff: I RED SOMETHING I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS TRUE IT WAS ONE REASON TO LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING OLDER YOU ARE LESS LIKELY TO CATCH THE COMMON COLD BECAUSE YOU'VE HAD SO MANY DIFFERENT VERSIONS AND MAYBE BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT GOING TO THE OFFICE OR SCHOOL AND BEING EXPOSED TO LOTS OF AGAINS ALL THE TIME.

GERMS ALL THE TIME.

ANY TRUTH TO THAT?

>> I DON'T AGREE.

YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM WEAKENS AND YOU HAVE MORE CHRONIC HEALTH PROBLEMS I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU ARE PROTECTING YOURSELF IF YOU NEED TO GET YOUR VACCINES, ESPECIALLY NOW HAVE YOU HAD YOUR FLU VACCINE, UP-TO-DATE WITH YOUR RSV VACCINES AND THE VACCINES REQUIRED AND IMPORTANT FOR OLDER ADULTS.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO START TALKING ABOUT THESE THINGS WITH THE DOCTOR AND NOT HAVE ASSUMPTIONS THERE IS A LOT OF MISINFORMATION SO YOU MAY NOT HAVE ALL THE RIGHT INFORMATION THAT YOU NEED TO MAKE BETTER DECISIONS FOR YOURSELF.

>> Jeff: NOT TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT BUT JOHN WANTS TO ASK IF YOU COULD TALK ABOUT RESTLESS LEG SYNDROME IN SENIORS.

IS THAT AN AGING THING?

IT IS AN AGING THING BUT IT CAN BE FROM A NEUROLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE WHEN IT COMES TO RESTLESS LEG SYNDROME MAKE SURE YOUR DOCTOR IS AWARE.

A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE ARE LIVING WITH SYMPTOMS THAT WE MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT.

MAKING A LIST IS THE BEST WAY.

I ASK MY PATIENTS BEFORE YOU COME TO THE APPOINTMENT MAKE A LIST OF QUESTIONS BECAUSE THEN YOU CAN FORGET THINGS THERE IS A LOT GOING ON IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO ASK THESE QUESTIONS.

YOU ARE NOT ALWAYS BLAMING AGING FOR EVERYTHING.

AND THERE COULD BE A DISEASE PROGRESSION THAT WE COULD BE MISSING.

>> Jeff: WHEN DO YOU SWITCH FROM A REGULAR PRIMARY CARE TO A GERIATRIC SPECIALIST?

SY.

WHEN YOUR CARE IS SO COMPLICATED THAT IT MAY REQUIRE THAT DEEP LENS IT'S TIME TO SEE A GERIATRICIAN.

>> Jeff: YOU ARE A DELIGHT IT WAS A LOT OF FUN.

I LOOK FORWARD BEING OLD ENOUGH TO SEE YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Jeff: WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> Jeff: AND JOINING US IS ARIELLE ELLIOTT, SHE IS THE CHIEF EXA ACTIVE OFFICER OF THE WASHINGTON SUN THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THAT IS A NEW NAME BUT SORT OF FAMILIAR SOUNDING FOR MANY OF OUR VIEWERS.

TELL US ABOUT THIS RISING SUN?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME ON TODAY I'M EXCITED TO TALK ABOUT OUR NEW NAME, THE WASHINGTON SUN.

WE HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A FEW YEARS.

NOTICE WHICH STANDS FOR NEWS OF THE UNITED STATES WAS OUR NAME UP UNTIL RECENTLY AND WE HAVE BEEN IN WASHINGTON COVERING PEOPLE, POWER AND POLITICS SINCE THEN.

AND RECENTLY WE ANNOUNCED A NEW NAME AND EXPANDED MISSION FOR OUR PUBLICATION.

THE WASHINGTON SUN SPEAKS TO WHERE WE ARE.

SO WE ARE COVERING WASHINGTON AND THE SURROUNDING AREA THE DMV FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE AND WORK HERE.

AND WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THEIR CITY.

>> Jeff: WHO IS THE TARGET AUDIENCE?

>> SO WE COVER CONGRESS AND THE WHITE HOUSE ALL OF THE FEDERAL AGENCIES AND WE HAVE A REALLY STRONG READERSHIP ON CAPITOL HILL AND THE PEOPLE WHO SORT OF WORK WITH AND AROUND CAPITOL HILL.

AND THAT NEWS IS REALLY INTERESTING TO PEOPLE IN WASHINGTON, BUT IT'S ALSO INTERESTING OUTSIDE OF WASHINGTON.

SO WE HAVE A NATIONAL AUDIENCE AS WELL.

WHEN WE ANNOUNCED OUR NEW NAME WE ANNOUNCED EXPANDED COVERAGE.

THAT INCLUDES THE LOCAL AREA, THE DMV AS WELL AS LOCAL SPORTS COVERAGE.

ALL OF THE PROFESSIONAL TEAMS IN WASHINGTON AS WELL AS HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS.

>> Jeff: WHAT IS THE STAFFING LIKE?

>> SO WE HAVE A VERY BIG TEAM.

WE HAVE REPORTERS AS I MENTIONED COVERING CONGRESS, WE HAVE A GIANT HILL TEAM.

WE ALSO HAVE REPORTERS AT THE WHITE HOUSE, IN THE FEDERAL AGENCIES, AND THEN WE HAVE A FANTASTIC LOCAL TEAM.

SOME OF THE REPORTERS WE HAVE YOU MIGHT HAVE HEARD OF MARTIN WHO IS WELL-KNOWN IN DC FOR HIS REPORTING AND HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A LONGTIME.

MICHAEL SADLER, JENNY GAGHT RIGHT ONE OF OUR COLUMNISTS IS TOM BOSWELL AND WE COVER FOOD AND CULTURE.

>> Jeff: ALL FAMILIAR NAMES AROUND THE WASHINGTON METRO AREA.

>> INDEED.

>> TELL US MORE ABOUT THE BUSINESS MODEL WHAT IS THE PRICING PLAN?

>> SURE.

SO OUR BUSINESS MODEL IS TWO FOLD.

WE HAVE AN ADVERTISING BUSINESS.

SIMILAR TO A LOT OF MEDIA COMPANIES.

AND ADVERTISERS CAN PARTNER WITH US BY RUNNING ADS ON OUR WEBSITE, IN OUR NEWSLETTERS AND ALSO PARTNERING WITH US SON SPONSORED EVENTS.

WE LAUNCHED A CONSUMER SUBSCRIPTION WE HAVE A SPECIAL OFFER IF YOU WANT TO SUBSCRIBE FOR WASHINGTON SUN IT'S $50 FOR THE FIRST YEAR.

>> Jeff: THAT OFFER CAME UP ON YOUR WEBSITE AND I WAS THINKING ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT IS NOT THE INTRODUCTORY OFFER YOU SEE AT SOME OTHER PUBLICATIONS THE FIRST YEAR FOR A DOLLAR AND THEN YOU TRY TO CONVERT TO A MORE SUSTAINABLE AMOUNT OF MONEY, ON THE OTHER HAND, YOU ARE IN THE FARYK WITH "THE WASHINGTON POST", WHICH HAS MOST PEOPLE KNOW CUT BACK LOCAL AND SPORTS COVERAGE.

BUT CHARGES SOMETHING LIKE $20 A YEAR.

HOW DO YOU COME UP WITH THE 50?

>> WE HAVE UNCOVERED THAT THERE IS A REALLY DEEP NEED FOR LOCAL JOURNALISM IN DC AND IN THE SURROUNDING AREAS.

SO WE ACTUALLY FEEL LIKE THE PRICE WHICH IS OUR FOUNDER'S OFFER IS A GOOD DISCOUNT OFF OF WHAT WE WILL CHARGE WHICH IS $9.99 A MONTH AFTER THAT.

WE HAVE HAD A TREMENDOUS RESPONSE TO OUR OFFERING WE SET OUT A GOAL FOR THE YEAR.

AND WE WILL LIKELY REACH THAT GOAL IN LESS THAN 30 DAYS.

I THINK THERE IS A NEED FOR COVERAGE WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND READERS HAVE RESPONDED.

>> Jeff: CERTAINLY, A VACUUM WAS CREATED WHEN "THE WASHINGTON POST" GOT OUT OF THE LOCAL NEWS BUSINESS.

NOW THE BANNER WHICH STARTED IN BALTIMORE HAS EXPANDED INTO THE DC MARKET BUT MOSTLY FOCUSED ON THE MARYLAND SUBURBAN COUNTIES?

>> YES, I THINK.

>> Jeff: AND THE MORE THE MERRIER.

>> I THINK IT'S GREAT FOR THE BANNER AND GREAT FOR US AND GREAT FOR THE POST.

THE MORE LOCAL JOURNALISM THERE IS WE WILL PUSH EACH OTHER FORWARD I THINK IT'S TERRIFIC.

WE COVER MARYLAND AND MONTGOMERY COUNTY AND PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY IN PARTICULAR AND WE WILL BE COVERING HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS IN BOTH OF THOSE COUNTIES.

>> Jeff: THESE DAYS WHEN PEOPLE HEAR THERE IS A NEWFOUNDLANDS SOURCE, THEY MIGHT SUSPECT THAT IT'S EITHER ON ONE SIDE OF THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM OR THE OTHER.

WHERE DO YOU PLAN TO BE?

>> SO WE ARE NONPARTISAN AND THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO US.

WE HAVE READERS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.

WE ALSO PARTNER WITH THE ALL BRITON JOURNALISM INSTITUTE AND WE HAVE 20 FELLOWS THAT WORK IN OUR NEWSROOM ON A TWO-YEAR PROGRAM.

SO WE ARE TRAINING THOSE JOURNALISTS THEY ARE PAIRED WITH VETERAN EDITORS AND REPORTERS THAT MENTOR AND COACH THEM.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE WORKING WITH THEM IS THE IMPORTANCE OF NONPARTISAN JOURNALISM.

>> Jeff: THE REVENUE MODEL IS THE MULTILEGGED STOOL.

YOU'VE GOT ADVERTISING, SUBSCRIPTIONS, PHILANTHROPY AND MAYBE EVENTS.

>> YES.

WE ARE A FOR-PROFIT EN IT ITY, WE DO HAVE THE ADVERTISING, THE SUBSCRIPTIONS AND THE EVENTS.

>> >> Jeff: AN ALL BRITON IS FAMILIAR TO THE AREA AND STARTED UP "POLITICO" WHICH WAS A BIG SUCCESS?

>> YES, THAT'S RIGHT.

HE HAS GREAT INSTINCTS FOR JOURNALISM, ROBERT, MY BOSS.

AND I THINK HE IS VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS VENTURE AS WELL.

>> Jeff: WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE CONSUMERS ARE LOOKING FOR?

EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED IN TERMS OF HOW WE GET NEWS.

IT USED TO BE A PHYSICAL NEWSPAPER SHOWING UP ON THE DRIVEWAY.

THEN IT'S GONE ON-LINE AND NOW MOSTLY ON YOUR PHONE, RIGHT?

>> YES.

AND I THINK IT DEPENDS ON THE PERSON.

WE STILL HAVE PEOPLE ASKING US WHETHER WE ARE PLANNING TO HAVE A PRINT EDITION WHICH IS NOT IN OUR PLANS.

AND WE HAVE A LOT OF READERS THAT LIKE THE NEWS DELIVERED TO THEIR PHONE.

WE HAVE A NUMBER OF HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL NEWSLETTERS THAT HAVE A 50% OPERATE WHICH IS VERY HIGH IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT E-MAIL NEWSLETTERS.

AND THAT IS ONE OF THE WAYS WE REACH OUR READERS.

WE ALSO DISTRIBUTE OUR NEWS ON THIRD PARTY PLATFORMS LIKE APPLE NEWS, WE ARE ON ALL THE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS.

AND JUST REACHING OUT TO READERS.

WE WANT TO FIND THEM WHERE THEY ARE SO TO SPEAK.

>> Jeff: THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS A NEWS GENERATING MACHINE ATTRACTS A LOT OF VERY SPECIALIZED PUBLICATIONS, THAT CAN CHARGE A LOT OF MONEY BECAUSE IF YOU ARE IN CERTAIN INDUSTRIES YOU NEED TO KNOW WHAT THE REGULATORY BODIES, WHAT CERTAIN COMMITTEES ARE DOING ON CAPITOL HILL.

ARE YOU IN THAT BUSINESS?

OR MAYBE ADJACENT TO THAT BUSINESS?

>> I WOULD SAY WE'RE ADJACENT TO THAT BUSINESS.

WE HAVE REPORTERS HERE WITH DEEP INDUSTRY KNOWLEDGE AND COVERING FEDERAL AGENCIES VERY CLOSELY.

WE ARE NOT A TRADE PUBLICATION THAT IS SPECIALIZED IN ONE PARTICULAR POLICY AREA.

BUT WE DO HAVE A LOT OF POLICY EXPERTS.

>> Jeff: WHAT DO YOU THINK THE FUTURE OF NEWS IS?

WHEN WE LOOK AT THE NATIONAL MEDIA SEEMS TO BE FAIRLY POLARIZED NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE MIDDLE IT'S EASIER TO ATTRACT AN AUDIENCE WHEN YOU ARE ON THE LEFT OR THE RIGHT?

>> I THINK THAT IS RIGHT.

I THINK THAT MEDIA COMPANIES THAT ARE CHASING AUDIENCE WILL FIND THAT EASIER TO GET IF THEY ARE FOCUSED LEFT OR FOCUSED RIGHT.

WE ARE FOCUSED ON QUALITY JOURNALISM AND QUALITY AUDIENCE.

THERE ARE A LOT OF ADVERTISERS THAT WANT TO REACH OUR AUDIENCE OF REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS THAT LIVE IN DC, THAT MIGHT WORK IN POLITICS THAT ARE SPORTS FANS THAT CARE ABOUT THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.

HAVING THAT QUALITY AUDIENCE IS IMPORTANT TO US.

AND WE FEEL LIKE THE NONPARTISAN JOURNALISM ALLOWS US TO GAIN TRUST WITH THAT AUDIENCE.

>> Jeff: WE'RE HAPPY TO SEE MORE NONPARTISAN JOURNALISM AND HAPPY TO SEE LOCAL JOURNALISM.

TELL OUR VIEWERS WHERE THEY CAN LOOK FOR YOUR NEWS STORIES AND YOUR INITIAL SUBSCRIPTION OFFER.

>> WASHINGTON SUN.COM.

CHECK US OUT.

WE DO OFFER FREE ARTICLES AND THEN YOU WILL SEE THE OFFER FOR THE PAY WALL BUT WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU.

>> Jeff: HOW DOES THE PAY WALL WORK?

SOME HAVE A HARD PAY WALL IT'S SQUISHY AND YOU SORT OF MAKE IT FIRMER OVER TIME.

>> WE HAVE A METER.

WE ALLOW A CERTAIN NUMBER OF FREE ARTICLES EVERY MONTH.

WE WANT PEOPLE TO COME AND SAMPLE OUR CONTENT.

OUR E-MAIL NEWSLETTERS ARE FREE.

EVENTUALLY AS READERS CLICK INTO THE STORIES OVER AND OVER THEY WILL COME ACROSS THE PAY WALL.

BUT WE WANT PEOPLE TO GET A TASTE OF WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER HERE AT THE WASHINGTON SUN.

>> Jeff: ABSOLUTELY.

ARIELLE ELLIOTT THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND BEST OF LUCK.

>> THANK YOU SACH FOR HAVING ME, JEFF.

>> Jeff: AND THAT IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" FOR THIS WEEK.

WE'RE BACK FRIDAY WITH "STATE CIRCLE" THE LATEST ON MARYLAND POLITICS.

REMEMBER, OUR PAST PROGRAMS ARE ON-LINE VIDEO.MPT.TV.

NOW, FOR ALL OF US AT MPT THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

CLOSED CAPTIONING HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY MARYLAND RELAY, EMPOWERING THOSE WHO ARE DEAF, HARD OF HEARING OR SPEECH DISABLED TO STAY CONNECTED BY PHONE.

[♪♪]